Jon Jones could be ready to make a surprise appearance early in 2012, after admitting he is considering ditching plans to rest for the first five months of the year.

Jones enjoyed a quite outstanding 12 months in 2011 that saw him win four fights, earning himself the UFC light-heavyweight title in the process. Ryan Bader, Mauricio Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson and Lyoto Machida were all stopped, leading many to consider Jones' exploits the best year ever produced by one individual.

Following his most recent win over Machida, the 205lb champion confessed he would likely take a long rest in order to recharge his body, but those plans now appear to have been shelved.

Speaking to ESPN's Josh Gross, Jones confessed he now wants to repeat his four-fight efforts of 2011, which realistically would mean a return to action by April at the very latest.

"My goal is to finish every fight in 2012. If I do that, a lot of other things will fall into place naturally. I want to finish every opponent," Jones told ESPN.

"I've been thinking recently about trying to compete four times in the year again. I grew so much as a person that by doing that again in 2012 will just make me a better athlete.

"Originally I said I wanted to take off four or five months, but I may reconsider and come back sooner and have three or four fights this year."